Fears Australian boys in Syrian detention could soon be forcibly removed from families

Several Australian boys being held in Syrian detention camps have been told they could be forcibly removed from their families because they have turned 12 years old.

UN human rights experts said at least 10 boys, as young as 12, were forcibly removed from Roj camp overnight on 31 January, and that more removals were planned.

The Guardian understands no Australian children were removed in the latest forced removal, but several families have been told their boys face imminent removal.

In the first half of 2022, Australian teenager Yusuf Zahab reportedly died from unknown causes. He had been taken into Syria at the age of 11 and was separated as a teenager from his family.

The Guardian has approached the office of the home affairs minister regarding the forcible removal of boys from Roj camp and the potential risk to Australian nationals.

It was the second repatriation mission undertaken by Australian authorities: in 2019, eight orphaned children from one family were returned to Australia.

Save the Children Australia chief executive, Mat Tinkler, said the Australian government had shown, through recent repatriations, that bringing children and families home to Australia was possible.